HAIKOU, China – A delegation of journalists from nine major overseas media outlets, including representatives from the United States, France, Türkiye, Spain, and the Republic of Korea, recently completed an in-depth tour of China's Hainan Province. The visit, spanning multiple cities such as Haikou, Wanning, Lingshui, and Sanya, focused on the region's marine cultural tourism, ecological conservation efforts, and innovative consumer models, providing a firsthand look at the renewed dynamism of Hainan's "ocean economy."
This year marks the first full year following the island-wide special customs operations of the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), and 2026 has been designated as the "Marine Tourism Year." The initiative strategically emphasizes ocean-themed cultural travel, leveraging policy dividends including visa-free access for citizens of 86 countries, expanded traffic rights, and offshore duty-free shopping. These measures have significantly enhanced Hainan's openness to the world, fueling a surge in cultural tourism demand. In the first half of this year alone, the island recorded over 1 million inbound visits, a year-on-year increase of 48.8%, underscoring the robust growth momentum of the FTP's tourism sector.
In Wanning's Riyue Bay, the international media group experienced the rapid expansion of Hainan's coastal sports industry. The bay, renowned as a world-class surfing destination, receives more than 500,000 visits annually, attracting travelers from as far as Australia and Southeast Asia. A major highlight was the nation's first Olympic-standard artificial surf pool, which employs advanced wave-making technology to simulate 23 different wave types, enabling year-round, all-weather surfing regardless of natural conditions. Mr. Guney Isik Ganimgil, a contributor to Turkey's Aydınlık newspaper, remarked that Hainan's cultural tourism development has far exceeded expectations and holds tremendous investment potential.
Eco-empowered tourism and the protection of blue bays are defining hallmarks of Hainan's development. The Hainan Ocean Paradise Resort adheres strictly to a policy against capturing wild marine life; its rescue center has successfully rehabilitated and released over 200 rare marine creatures, including sea turtles and hawksbills, back into the wild. Meanwhile, Wuzhizhou Island has pioneered an innovative model of eco-tourism, partnering with universities to develop a tropical marine ranch. Through the strategic deployment of artificial reefs and the transplantation of tens of thousands of coral colonies, the island now offers visitors the opportunity to participate in coral transplantation—a hands-on experience that fosters a virtuous cycle between ecological conservation and tourism engagement, earning high praise from the attending media.
Deepening the integration of culture and tourism has also revitalized Hainan's traditional maritime heritage. The Danjia fishing rafts continue to enrich their authentic marine-ethnic cultural offerings, continuously diversifying their "product portfolio." Tianya Town, built around a century-old fishing village, has evolved into a coastal leisure landmark, now home to nearly a hundred boutique homestays and specialty cafés. The Sanya International Duty-Free Shopping Complex, housing over 1,000 international brands, has introduced cutting-edge "duty-free + technology" consumption scenarios. And the Sanya Yacht Tourism Center, with a complete industrial chain, recorded over 220,000 yacht outings in 2025, cementing its status as a premier destination for high-end coastal tourism.
After four days of in-depth exploration, the media delegation witnessed a Hainan that is open, green, and vibrantly dynamic. Today's Hainan FTP has transcended the traditional model of seaside tourism, with policy as its backbone, ecology as its canvas, and culture as its soul. By continually energizing the blue economy, Hainan is presenting a compelling new vision of high-quality development to the world.
